Page 69 of The Dreaming Beauty
Tansy dipped a curtsy. Then her head snapped up as she realized who she was greeting. “Lord Cadogen? As in... ?” She swallowed. This wasthe Masked Baron—a man whose name was a favorite of all of England to bandy about when telling frightening stories, a man who had a reputation as the best swordsman in England, a man who was said to have killed his own parents at the age of sixteen. She stood her ground. She would not cower before him, murderer or not.
His voice rumbled in a deep chuckle. “As in Mr. Taylor’s favorite friend?” he finished for her.
That was the last thing she’d expected him to say. Her brow furrowed in confusion.
“I did not realize he ever talked about me. I am flattered,” the baron said.
Marcus shook his head. “I am waiting for your reputation to sufficiently recover before I publicly claim you as my friend.”
Friend? Tansy could not comprehend it.
The easy rejoinder brought an amused smirk to Lord Cadogen’s intense but handsome face. “I have no plans for my reputation to recover. The more people who fear me, the more alone time I have with my wife.”
The smile that passed between the couple was so sweet and intimate that Tansy had to look away. She could not reconcile the stories of the Dark Rider with the amiable man in front of her.
Marcus groaned. “When they start to talk like this, I know it’s time to leave. Lady Tansy, will you accompany me on a walk?” He held his arm out, and Tansy could not but take it.
“Do come back soon, Lady Tansy,” Lady Cadogen said, her voice surprisingly sincere. “I would love to spend more time getting to know you.”
Tansy’s smile was likely as unsure as the rest of her. She nodded before Marcus pulled her back toward the trees.
“Was that... ?”
“The Masked Baron? Yes, though without his mask. I daresay he is not as impressive without it. But surely every woman would disagree.”
If he meant the man was handsome and intimidating, Marcus was correct. But her preference was handsome andapproachable. Her gaze slid up to Marcus’s profile. How had he come to be connected with a baron and highwayman? And why had he divulged her dreams to Lord Cadogen?
She dropped her arm from his, her disgust mounting.
Marcus tilted his head and met her gaze. “What’s wrong? Did he scare you? I assure you he is not who people think he is. I would trust him with my life.”
She shook her head, not knowing what to say. She could defy all public opinion and believe what he said about his friend, but the words she had overheard could not be so easily overlooked. Moments ago, she had been so eager to see him, so ready to tell him all the wonderful things she had learned about her parents. Now she knew not whether she should trust him with such intimate details about her life.
“Is it something else, then? You have had a lot to take in this past week.”
Finding her voice, she said simply, “The adjustment has been more happy than sad. I have put most of the hurt behind me.”
“I doubt many would take it so well.”
Was his kindness contrived? Had it been all along? She did not want to believe him capable of using her. She could be forgiving if she had a decent explanation. But what explanation would Marcus have? She wanted both to demand it from him and deny him the opportunity. The prior at last won out.
Along the opposite side of the trees was a meadow, and if they hurried, they might be able to step out of the view of the others without being noticed. It was exactly what she shouldn’t be doing, but after their nighttime visits, what was a secluded conversation in full daylight? Taking her new rank into consideration, and the fact that it was her birthday event, she gave Marcus’s arm a sharp yank and pulled him toward the clearing.
“Where are we going?”
She said nothing until she stopped just inside the trees. “We need to talk.”
Concern clouded his brow. “What is it? Another note?”
She released his arm again, and words tumbled from her mouth. “I heard you speaking to Lord Cadogen about my dreams.” She braced herself for his explanation and prayed it would fix the hurt churning within her.
His expression softened, but she was quite confident she saw guilt in his eyes. “I am sorry you had to hear it like that.”
She wanted to whirl around and stalk away after everything that had happened between them since she had moved to Rose Cottage, but she could not make herself. She straightened and did her best to keep her tone even. “I have kept the specifics about my dreams from you and every person I know, but I will tell you now on one condition. I don’t care what you do with the information so long as you promise it will not hurt my aunts. And then you must leave us alone forever.”
“Tansy,” he pleaded. “I wanted to explain, to tell you everything, but—”
“You don’t owe me anything, but you must promise before I will open my mouth.”
